The Nigerian Army (NA) has refuted allegations that its soldiers invaded the EKO Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry, describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
The allegation was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors during an interview with Arise Television on March 18, 2025. However, in an official statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, the Army clarified that no soldiers attacked or invaded any EKEDC facility in Badagry.
According to the Army, the incident in question occurred within Topo Barracks in Badagry, where residents, including military personnel, had endured over a month-long power outage despite reassurances from EKEDC.
The statement explained that when electricity was finally restored at about 12:30 AM on March 14, 2025, a power surge triggered a fire outbreak within the barracks in a facility managed by EKEDC. The situation caused panic, prompting soldiers on duty to coordinate efforts with EKEDC personnel to contain the fire.
EKEDC’s technical staff were reportedly granted immediate access to the barracks at about 1:00 AM, and after successfully resolving the issue, they departed around 2:30 AM.
The Army acknowledged that a misunderstanding briefly occurred between a soldier and an EKEDC staff member during the repair process, but it was swiftly and amicably resolved on the spot.
Refuting claims of an invasion, the Army maintained that at no time did its soldiers storm EKEDC’s substation in Badagry, nor did they abduct or detain any of its staff.
The Army also pointed out that EKEDC’s leadership in Badagry has maintained a long-standing cordial relationship with the Commanding Officer of the unit, which remains intact.
To further investigate the cause of the fire outbreak and ensure transparency, the Commanding Officer immediately constituted a Board of Inquiry.
The Army also criticized Arise TV for airing misleading footage during the interview, stating that the visuals shown were from an entirely different incident and did not feature NA personnel. The Army described this as an attempt to create a false narrative of a hostile standoff between the military and EKEDC.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting human rights and maintaining good relationships with host communities, the Nigerian Army emphasized that it does not condone misconduct against law-abiding citizens.
The Army urged the public to disregard false reports and assured that it remains a responsible national institution dedicated to upholding its constitutional duties.
